As I mentioned in my last post, I became convinced recently that we REALLY ARE supposed to observe and practice Sabbath. I do also think that Jesus’ presence on earth and observation (or breaking?) of the Sabbath indicates that there is latitude in how we practice, and that we need to operate by principles, rather than specific practices. I want to share a little of my own processing of the principles, as well as some of the practices I’ve adopted. However, this is a work-in-progress for me. As I thought about Sabbath practice, my temptation was to wait until I had it all figured out before starting, but I realized that it was good just to start, and let it develop over time as the Lord revealed more to me.
As I’ve pondered and read and prayed about how to do this in modern America, there are some of the principles that I believe need to be applied:
- The law of love supersedes all other rules.
This is why Jesus was always accused of “breaking” the Sabbath. The Pharisees and Jewish lawmakers had made so many laws of what NOT to do, that you couldn’t even care for someone (or heal someone) if you happened to encounter their need on the Sabbath. According to Jesus, people – and their spiritual, physical and emotional needs – are more important than prohibitive rules of Sabbath-keeping. (Matt. 12, Mark 2, Luke 13, John 5&9 – or just pick a Gospel and open it to a page and read…) So, if you decide that you aren’t going to shop on the Sabbath, but then your child has an emergency medical need, you go buy some medicine. Or, if you aren’t going to eat in restaurants, but you meet a homeless person who needs to eat, you go buy him/her food. You get the idea…
2. Sabbath is a gift to delight in, not a burden to bear.
Sabbath practices should include things that rest, delight, and are life-giving to your mind, body, soul, and spirit. Do you love baking, but don’t usually have time to do it? Bake! Does nature refresh you? Take a walk and watch for birds and flowers. Are you creative? Do some art – paint, color, play music, dance. The things that should be included in your Sabbath practice are activities that rest and replenish your body (naps, walks, long baths, great food), activities that bring you joy (fun & games, art, time with family & friends), and activities that renew your soul (worship, meditation, community, music).
3. Determine a beginning and an end to your Sabbath, and bookend it with a ritual.
Because Sabbath-keeping is so counter-cultural, it is necessary to set it apart, and that takes intentionality. There should be a specific beginning and end to your Sabbath. Otherwise, it is easy to let the ordinary bleed into the rest, and it is no longer set apart. The day is not critical, in my opinion – but should pretty consistently be every 7th day. For pastors, the 7th day might be on Monday. For some, it might be Sunday. Some might want to be calendar-specific and use Saturday. You can start in the evening, or the morning. Jewish time, and the way God set it up at creation (Gen 1-2), started at sundown and ended the following sundown. There is some benefit to starting in the evening, both from a rest standpoint, as well as from a symbolic standpoint. But I believe God is more interested in our intention in setting the Sabbath apart than the specific logistics of it.
4. If it is “work” to you, you shouldn’t do it.
This is going to be different for different people. A farmer should stay out of the field, but an office manager might need to get out in the garden. There is a general adage that says, “If you work with your hands, Sabbath with your mind. If you work with your mind, Sabbath with your hands.” This is a loose guideline but is helpful to keep in mind. If you spend all week writing and answering emails, email should be on your “not gonna’ do it” list for Sabbath. If a particular activity brings you anxiety or stress, don’t do that on your Sabbath. Sabbath is for rest. Find those things that are restful, and be intentional about incorporating them. “Shabbat” literally means “to cease,” so whatever is a part of your regular week’s practice, cease from those things and receive the gift of rest.
So, with those principles in mind, these are some of the ways that I have started practicing Sabbath.
- I set a reminder on my phone to “Shabbat” (cease) at 6:00 pm on Saturday.
- Sometime between 6:00 – 6:30, I will usher in the Sabbath with the lighting of my Sabbath candle and a simple prayer liturgy which includes blessings for each person present. Whoever is in my home at that time is invited (but not obligated) to join me.
- For the next 24 hours:
- These are the things I will not do
- Anything related to my paid work, including checking, reading or answering email
- Housework, chores, or anything on my “to do” list
- Shopping – in stores or online
- Check social media
- Planning and list-making (the exception is that if I think of something that needs to be done later, I will write it on a list so that I can let go of it)
- These are the things I WILL do
- Read, write, create – for pleasure
- Talk a walk or sit out in nature
- Eat good food – including going out to eat if that seems like a good idea
- Communicate with friends and family – phone calls, visits, emails, letters
- Worship and fellowship
- Journal
- These are the things I will not do
- At 6:00 pm on Sunday, a reminder goes off on my phone again to end Shabbat. For now, this includes lighting the candle again and saying a Sabbath prayer.
I have only had 2 weeks of practicing Sabbath as of the time of this writing and will start the 3rd tomorrow. I can truly say that while it does take some adjustment in thinking and habits, I found the whole practice very refreshing and centering. Being away from home (as I was on my 2nd Saturday of practice) takes a little more planning and forethought, but the practice is very adaptable.
If you are ever at my house on a Saturday evening or Sunday, you are welcome to join me. If you are at your own house, I encourage you to give it a try. Just once – see what you think! If you have questions about Sabbath practice or practices of your own, please leave a comment! If you would like a copy of my Sabbath liturgy, send me your email address and I’ll send it to you.